Round 18: Cowboys v Wests Tigers preview
Cowboys out for revenge against woeful Wests
Saturday evening will see the North Queensland Cowboys host the Wests Tigers in Townsville in what shapes as a particularly crucial clash for the home team. With some confidence-boosting wins under their belt in recent weeks, the Cowboys will be looking to sneak their way into the top eight over the coming rounds.
North Queensland have three wins on the trot, with two of those coming at their home ground. With a bye separating those wins, they're also in a good place physically, with their injury list looking significantly better than earlier in the season. Suddenly, things are looking very bright for the Cowboys, and with another bye coming up, followed by match-ups with some struggling sides, their fans should be feeling excited.
The Cowboys are coming off a commanding 31-6 victory over the Rabbitohs last Sunday at Olympic Park. They did so with a number of high profile players backing up from their origin series win (or loss, if you're Reece Robson) on the Wednesday prior, although admittedly Souths were short on their own troops. The Cowboys winning period has come throughout the Origin period, so they'll want to keep their key players fit throughout the next couple of weeks of Origin focus.
The Cowboys have named the same 17, however Jason Taumalolo has been named at 18th man, and is a possible late inclusion.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are struggling. Sitting in 16th, and winless since the last time they met the Cowboys, they have work to do to ensure they don't find themselves with the wooden spoon for the second year running. This past week has carried some major news stories out of Concord, with (currently injured half) Luke Brooks set to leave the club at the end of the season, thus ending the ‘big four' era at the Tigers. Promising outside back Tommy Talau will also depart to Manly, just a few seasons after the Tigers reportedly turned down the Storm for a straight swap with Addo-Carr.
They will enter this clash off the back of their third and final bye of season 2023 last week. Prior to that, their only highlight since beating the Cowboys was Alex Twal's first career try, scored two weeks ago in a disappointing and underwhelming 28-6 loss to Melbourne at Campbelltown. If the Tigers have any chance of pulling off an upset on Saturday, they are going to need to tap into some form of inspiration and give it everything they've got.
The brief Starford To'a at five-eighth experiment has come to an end, with Tim Sheens opting with the objectively more sensible halves pairing of Daine Laurie and Brandon Wakeham. To'a is back in the centres, moving Kepaoa to the bench. Stefano Utoikimanu will start in the front row, meaning Fonua Pole moves to the bench.
Tigers assistant coaches Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall have happy memories of playing against the Cowboys - especially in the 2005 NRL Grand Final, in which they played alongside Cowboys head coach Todd Payten. Payten will be hoping to outplay his old team and teammates this weekend.
Last meeting: Round 12 2023 - Wests Tigers 66 Cowboys 18
Who to watch: 22 year old Cowboys half Tom Dearden has well and truly established himself as a vital part of the North Queensland set-up ever since he headed up to Townsville from the Broncos for the back end of 2021. With State of Origin and Preliminary Final football under his belt, Dearden has a pretty good amount of big game experience for his age - especially since he was lining up for Souths Logan only two years ago.
Wests Tigers' Daine Laurie is set to return to the NRL side for the first time since round four this season. Despite having started the season as the fullback for the Tigers, he will slot back into first grade in the halves, partnering Brandon Wakeham. Laurie has played just three games as a starting five-eighth prior to this in his open age career - all three coming for Penrith's NSW Cup team back in 2019. It'll be a massive test for him to not just have to adjust to the pace of NRL footy, but simultaneously deal with a different position.
Favourite: Despite getting absolutely blown off the park just over a month ago by the Tigers, North Queensland are the strong favourites to extend their winning streak this weekend. Footy is weird like that.
My tip: How a few weeks can change things. The Cowboys look set to return serve from the thrashing they received at the hands of the Tigers earlier in the season. Cowboys by 40.
